Sheikh Abdullah's son, Farooq Abdullah, took over the leadership of the National Conference after his father's death.
In 1974, an agreement was brokered between Indira Gandhi and Sheikh Abdullah, leading to Sheikh Abdullah assuming the role of Chief Minister of the State. Under his leadership, the National Conference was rejuvenated and secured a majority in the 1977 assembly elections. However, Sheikh Abdullah's passing in 1982 led to his son, Farooq Abdullah, inheriting the National Conference's leadership and becoming the Chief Minister. Yet, his governance was short-lived, as the Governor dismissed his administration, permitting a breakaway faction of the National Conference to briefly seize power.
The termination of Farooq Abdullah's government due to Centre's intervention created a sense of discontent in Kashmir. The accord between Indira Gandhi and Sheikh Abdullah had initially fostered confidence in democratic processes, but this confidence was marred. The perception of Centre's intrusion in the state's politics was accentuated when the National Conference formed an electoral alliance with the Congress, the ruling party at the Centre, in 1986. |
